Pirates Release Joe Beimel

AUGUST 23rd: The Pirates announced they've designated lefty reliever Joe Beimel for assignment to open a spot on the active roster for Ross Ohlendorf.

Beimel, 34, has a 5.33 ERA, 6.0 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 2.1 HR/9, and 41.2% groundball rate with 34 hits allowed in 25 1/3 innings this year after surrendering a longball to Ryan Braun last night. Several contenders, including the Yankees and Phillies, are known to be seeking a veteran lefty. Beimel has been decent against left-handed hitters this year, but he's only faced 46 of them.

The Pirates signed Beimel to a minor league deal in January; the southpaw has ties to Pittsburgh. His yearly salary while in the Majors is $1.75MM.

That sounds about right. This is the same team that gave the Bucs Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen, & Jose Tabata for Xavier Nady & Damaso Marte.

It’s too bad that Paul Maholm got hurt, otherwise the Bucs could package him & Joe Beimel for better than whatever the Pirates get from the yanks for Beimel alone. Although, I have a feeling that as long as the Red Sox are behind the yanks in the standings, the Sox will claim any starting pitching before the New York can act.